Don’t destroy this special place

Just when Tampa residents think our mayor’s office has a handle on taking advantage of Tampa’s natural assets — the bay, the river, the weather, landscaping, public art — the city has taken aim at one of its remaining green assets.

Ballast Point is Tampa’s small, charming area encompassing a small triangle of land south of Gandy Boulevard. Recently the city revamped the park and pier area known as Ballast Point Park with no thought or provisions for parking for all the additional people enjoying the park, particularly on weekends. In typical bureaucratic fashion they looked around and spotted a small charming park on the corner of Interbay and Nichol Street.

This park is a major contributor to the ambience of the Ballast Point area with its centuries-old oak trees laden with moss.

In an area already crowded, the city is considering using this park area for additional parking. What are they thinking? This in no way should happen. Consideration toward parking meters, shorter time for use of pavilions, a shuttle service on weekends — anything but using up a rapidly disappearing green space enjoyed by locals and other folks using the park, and joggers, families, pet walkers, families having pictures taken among the oaks, and children enjoying the adjacent horse facility.

Mayor’s office, please heed this alarm. Do not destroy one of Tampa’s remaining green spaces.

Additional parking anywhere along the narrow brick streets in already crowded Ballast Point will destroy what the public comes to enjoy about this very special area of Tampa.